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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

A good day's work

My mother-in-law has commissioned me to create a piece using black, white and red as my palette.  My job transition has kept me from creating much of anything, but over the past few weeks I've been going through my paper files and pulling out any and all black/white/red scraps. 
 
#1

I ended up with a huge pile, and a nice mix of hand-painted papers, commercial papers, security envelopes, and bits of advertising.  One brain-dead evening last week I coated all of these papers in polymer medium while watching some mindless TV.

#2

 Yesterday was a paid holiday for me, and I found myself with a surprisingly unscheduled stretch of time.  With all of my collage fodder prepped and ready to go, I was able to sit down and start.

#3

I wasn't sure where I was going, but as with most things, once I started I couldn't stop.  (and I'm continuing my love affair with the polymer medium/tack iron collage technique.  Not a single glue-fail or buckled paper in sight!) I have six finished pieces, a few more in progress, and a couple of silly postcards for good measure.

#4

Each of these pieces is created on heavy 8"x10" watercolor paper.  I used drafting tape to create a 1.5" border, so the collage itself is 5"x7".

#5

I keep changing my mind about which is my favorite.  There's only one I don't like, but I include it here (without telling which one) because I'm often surprised by what people respond to.  

#6

What do you think?  Which one is your favorite?

20 comments:

  1. Karen, these are wonderful! I like the last one the most, maybe because it is the most vivid..?!

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  2. I really like all of them, red/black/white is such a great combo. My favorites are #2 and #6.

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  3. #2 is my favorite (and #1 was a close second...I was torn!) If I had to guess, I'd say you don't like #5.

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  4. These are fantastic. I like the clean border you created. My favorite is #5.

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  5. I like 5 best, then 1. That's usually not a color combo I'm fond of but I actually like all of those at least a little, which is a nod to your design sense.

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  6. The first one is my favorite with the fifth one being a very close second! Awesome work as always! TFS!

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  7. All fantastic! Numbers 3 and 6 are my favorites.

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  8. #2 - I really like the layers upon layers and it seems they are all so textured. This is one of my fave color combos because it's just so dramatic. Surprisingly, I found I liked the ones with less red the best (though I actually like them all!) My least fave? Hmmmm #1 I think. Wonder if it matches yours?

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  9. They are all great but I think my favorite is #3.

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  10. number 3 is my favourite, but I must say I really like them all

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  11. I like #1--it feels bold to me.
    ~Dawn

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  12. Love the lost & found feeling in #4....but it's hard to choose....they're all great.

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  13. I like #5. Now, come on -- tell us which one you don't like!

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  14. #2! Love the layers and the look of the peekaboo design in the upper right hand corner, like looking through someone's front gate to their Red Door.... Which one did the Mom-in-Law choose?

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  15. Really fantastic! I think #2, #3, and #4 are my favorites. I can't narrow it down any more because they're all great.

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  16. #2 is my favorite , with #3 being second fave.

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  17. I can't pick a favorite for red, black and while are my favorite palette combo. Most of my clothes closet is that palette...

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  18. wow - i love all of them, and can't really imagine which one you don't like. Maybe the second-to-last, because it doesn't have much red in it? Just guessing, because it is different from the rest. I have used the polymer medium technique you're using; it really does give a nice flat result!

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  19. What a great series, Karen! I like the first piece best of all. Black, white, and red is such a great combination.

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  20. #6 is my hands-down favorite with # 2 a close second. You are so right when you say we might all have different ideas about our favorites!! Whichever one is chosen, I know your m-i-l will be thrilled with it!

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